Traveling step-labder



T. KEEPFERL TRAVELING STEP LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-2|; 191a.

1,306,5416. Patented June 10, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEEI I;

T. KEEPFERF TRAVELING STEP LADDER. APPLICATION FILED 'Aue.2|. 19m;

1,306,546. Patented June, 10, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEYS.

r I DJ,

THOMAS KEEPFER, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYIJVANIA.

TRAVELING STEP-LADDER.

Speciflcation of Letters Patent.

Patented June 10, 1919.

A pplication filed August 21, 1918. Serial No. 250,887;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I Trromes KEEPFER, a

citizen of the United tates, residin in the city and county of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,

ful. Travelin My invent in a step ladder,

tate of have invented a new and useg Step-Ladder, of which the following is a specification.

ion relates to an improvement and consists 1n adaptlng' the same to be propelled or to travel from place to place,

and furthermore to be steered to a desired place while being occupied, both manipulations being accomplished while the ladder is in use without the occupant being required to descend from the ladder or vacate the same.

The invention is satisfactorily illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but the important instrumentalities thereof may be varied.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a step ladder mg my inventi on..

Fig. 2 represents an inoperative condition embodyelevation thereof in I folded condition,

Fig. 3 repres '1 on line 33 Fig.2.

Fig. 4 rep 1; a vertical section thereof rest-its a vertical section of a portion pn line 44 Fig. 2.

Fig. 0 members props of the represents a perspective view of on the lower portion of one of the ladder.

Fig. 6 represents a transverse vertical sec-- members shown in F ig. 5.

Fig. 7 represents a section of afit iodification of the S1milar embers shown in F ig.4.

numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings. 1 designates a step ladder of conventional form. 2 designates wheels or rollers which are connected with the axle 3, the latter having its bearin bars 4 of the gs on the lower ends of the side body of the ladder, they being of such diameter that said body is raised slightly from the floor on which the ladder is placed so that said body maybe run or roll on said wheels.

5 designates the side members of the props of the ladder, the same being adapted to be folded on and unfolded from the body of the ladder, as usual in step ladders.

On the lower ends of said side members are the whee whose axles ls or rollers 6, the bearings of 7 are on the ears 8 which are .the sprocket chain 11 .members are in operative fiposition they are raised slightly from the cor so that said side members may run or roll on the latter as shown in Fig. 1.

Connected with either of the wheels 2 is the sprocket wheel 10 around'which passes which passes also around the sprocket wheel 12 which is mounted on the shaft 13 whose bearing is on the upper end of one of the side barset of the ladder and has connected with it the crank handle'14 whereby by rotating the latter motion is imported to the sprocket wheel 12, the chain 11, and the sprocket wheel '10, and consequently. to the bottom wheels 2 of the ladder, and thus the ladder may be moved on said wheels 2 as well as on 6 of the legs have the wheels 6 of the direction of the ladder or to steer the same 7 in the direction that it is desired to run it.

be operation-is as follows a When the ladder is occupied and so in use, should it be desired to place it in a different position, the occupant rotates the crank handle whereby power is wheels 2 of the body of the latter, and so the ladder is propelled running on the wheels 2 and the wheels or rollers 6 as is evident. Then the handle ofthe lever 17 is grasped and the latter turned to the right or left, whereby the angularity of the wheels 6 are changed, and so the ladder may be steered to the desired spot it being noticed that all of this is accomp ished by the occupant remaining on the ladder, Or in other communicated to the these being mere mechanical equivalents for latter namedwh'eel whereby the ladder may rotating the wheels'2. be steered. I

In order to prevent improper movement 3. A step ladder having a prop mounted of the crank handle 1e and consequently of on a wheel, a bearin member for the axle 5 the wheels 2,.a pin shown in dotted lines in of said wheel pivota y connected with said 30 Figs. 1 and 2 may be passed through the prop, and a steering device on said prop same into the adJacent side of the ladder, connected with said member whereby the or any other suitable device may be eraladder may. be steered by the occupant ployed in lieu of said pin, toaccomplish a thereon. i similar object. 4. A step ladder having its body mounted 35 Having thus described my invention what on a wheel and provided with gearing, and I claim as new and desire to secure by Le a ,hand operated device for actuating said tersPatent, is gearing and consequently said wheel, and 1; A step ladder 'having'i'ts body and its having a prop mounted on' a wheel, a bearprop mounted respectively on wheels, meching member for the axle of the latter named 40 anismon said body for rotating the wheels wheel pivotally connected with said prop, thereon, and mechanism on said prop for; and a steering device on said prop connected changing. the angularity of its wheels, both with said bearing member whereby the lady said mechanisms being operative'by the ocder may be propelled'and steered by the oceupant of the ladder-"while thereon.

2. A step ladder having'its body-mounted on a Wheel adapted to. be hand operated by the occupant of the ladder, and its prop Witnesses: mounted 'ona wheel and provided with JOHN A. WrnDnnsHnrM,

' means for changing the angularityqof the N. Bnssmonn'.

cupant thereon.

" THOMAS nnnrrna 

